Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa says
Israel’s ban on his entrance into Ramallah in the West Bank has
reinforced Indonesia’s stance in supporting Palestine as a independent
state.

“For Indonesia, rejection by Israel is a badge of honor,” Marty told the Jakarta Globe on Monday.

“It’s an acknowledgement of Indonesia’s position and that Israel has limited Palestinian relations with the outside world.”

A
key meeting of Non-Aligned Movement ministers that was set to take
place in the West Bank on Sunday was canceled after Israel denied
several of them entry.

The ministers, including Marty, were
scheduled to attend a two-day meeting of the movement’s Palestine
Committee in Ramallah, at which they were poised to sign a declaration
in support of a Palestinian bid for upgraded UN membership.

Israel
said that it decided to bar representatives of several countries that
do not recognize Israel from entering Israeli territory.

Indonesia is a staunch supporter of the Palestinian cause and has rejected diplomatic ties with Israel.

“The
point is being made. The incident is a stark reminder that the
condition in Palestine remains the same,” Marty said, adding that the
incident only added to the evidence that Israel is an occupying state
because it was unilaterally limiting Palestine’s ability to deepen
relations with other countries.

“The incident also shows how
widespread Israeli occupation of Palestine is in an era where the Middle
East and North Africa have experienced dramatic changes,” Marty said.
As a second option, NAM, he said, will hold a meeting in Amman, Jordan.
“NAM’s position is united. It’s a no-brainer,” Marty said.

Separately,
Indonesia and 12 members of NAM special committee for the support of
Palestine’s freedom have condemned Israel for not giving access to the
participants of the extraordinary summit.

“Israel’s argument
that some participating countries have no diplomatic ties so that it did
not allow the participant to enter Ramallah is weak because it is known
that the conference is going to be held in Palestine, not in Israel,”
said the statement.

“The
Israeli action violates the international law. We deeply deplore the
fact that the extraordinary summit in Ramallah is cancelled due to its
blockade. Israel’s latest action strengthens NAM’s intention to help the
Palestinian people obtain their freedom,” the statement said.

A recent survey showed that a significant number of high school students support establishing a global Islamic State. Do you believe that the Indonesian government should introduce a curriculum starting from elementary school to counter radicalization?